How well did MLB: The Show choose cover athletes? We rank all 15 player performances that season

First and foremost, long live the PSP!

Secondly, the David Ortiz ‘06 cover was the first of The Show era. Previously, titles were MLB, followed by the year, produced by Sony Interactive Studios America, who later became 989 Studios. A merger between 989 Sports and Red Zone Interactive formed San Diego Studio, which currently produces The Show series.

‘Big Papi’ led the Majors with 148 RBI’s in 2005, which accompanied 47 home runs, a .300 batting average, and a second-place American League MVP finish. On the season he covered, Ortiz produced similarly, leading the AL with a personal-best 54 home runs, 137 RBI’s, and 119 walks. He was an All-Star for the third time in his career, finished third in AL MVP voting, and had hitting splits of .287 / .413 / .636, landing an OPS of 1.049, the second-best tally of his life. Unfortunately, after winning 95 games and still getting swept in the ALDS one season prior, the Red Sox didn’t even make the postseason in 2006, finishing 86-76. They did win the World Series in 2007, though.